**2026 Iowa Football Season Thread**

[KitKatApples]

I think the DT's have been better than expected

 

[Shawneemicks]

Pass rush with 4 is probably my biggest “concern”. Yes, I realize they often don’t really try to sack the qb.
Point really is their weaknesses aren’t many nor glaring

 

[douglasbader]

Pass rush with 4 is probably my biggest “concern”. Yes, I realize they often don’t really try to sack the qb.
Point really is their weaknesses aren’t many nor glaring

Shut the fuck up, retard.

 

[The Full Monte]

 

[maintain242001]

Should be building a statue of Phil honestly, dude has been great.

 

[Monster]

People are reading past quarterback battles into this one. Brown has the stronger arm, but is less decisive. Hecklinski is quicker getting the ball out, but is small. Both have bible tattoos. Hecklinski is pretty ugly.

I hope it's Hecklinski, as Iowa seems to value a big arm more than is justified by what they actually ask the quarterbacks to do.

To be fair, every football coach in the world value a strong arm more than is justified, no matter what they ask the qb to do.

 

[Lee Beevers]

To be fair, every football coach in the world value a strong arm more than is justified, no matter what they ask the qb to do.

I do think Hecklinski gives this version of Iowa a better chance to win, especially against good teams, but his noodle arm and being inaccurate can be problematic. He was great against Washington, but a 3-9 half for 27 yards with an interception or two can certainly sink Iowa in a lot of games down the stretch. Hopefully he continues to play well.

 

[Monster]

I do think Hecklinski gives this version of Iowa a better chance to win, especially against good teams, but his noodle arm and being inaccurate can be problematic. He was great against Washington, but a 3-9 half for 27 yards with an interception or two can certainly sink Iowa in a lot of games down the stretch. Hopefully he continues to play well.

I wouldn't say he has a noodle arm. He zipped quite a few of those passes in there, and a couple had too much mustard on them for the receiver to handle.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Again, who cares if he can't throw it 50 yards down field. We don't do that anyways.

 

[snips]

We don't do that anyways

THIS!

 

[Lee Beevers]

Again, who cares if he can't throw it 50 yards down field. We don't do that anyways.

My noodle arm comment has nothing to do with throwing the ball 50 yards down the field. It’s the not being late over the middle of the field or 20-25 yards outside the hashes. I’d like to see Hecklinski continue to start because he clearly has some sort of X factor Hank has not shown.

 

[douglasbader]

Again, the play calling was different with Hecklinski. No ridiculous forcing it to Diaz 10 times to show off just how strong the arm is on 15 yard out routes.

For that alone, I want them to play Hecklinski.

Watched the press conference with Lester, I got the distinct impression they actually plan on using both of them the rest of the season and mixing them up depending on game situations.

That's not likely to actually happen or work, but you can tell they are going to try at this point.

 

[Monster]

The play calling was different because they were running the ball successfully. Heck only threw 19 passes.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

He likely perfected the QB/rb handoff

 

[douglasbader]

The play calling was different because they were running the ball successfully. Heck only threw 19 passes.

Nope. They ran the ball like that against Northern Illinois and UNI and the play calling was nothing like that on passes.

 

[Monster]

Nope. They ran the ball like that against Northern Illinois and UNI and the play calling was nothing like that on passes.

Lol fiiiiiiine. It was different.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

I don't know shit but I'm assuming they didn't run anything complex against NIU or UNI

 

[douglasbader]

I don't know shit but I'm assuming they didn't run anything complex against NIU or UNI

Who said they did?

 

[Lee Beevers]

Lol fiiiiiiine. It was different.

They can do things with Hecklinski they can’t do with brown, AND the running game mercilessly buttfucking Washington made a lot of the calls easier. I do think we arent beating a CFP worthy team with Brown as QB. It’s at least possible with Hecklinski. Getting through the rest of the season will be a challenge for either QB. Go Hawks!!!

 

[Geese]

Watched the press conference with Lester, I got the distinct impression they actually plan on using both of them the rest of the season

Please God no

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Playing both is.refusing to giving in that hecklinski should be the dude

 

[Monster]

I think you guys might be over reacting just a tad.

 

[Mitchandrsn]

 

[BngHawk]

Fun

 

[CleteyColgate]

Watched the press conference with Lester, I got the distinct impression they actually plan on using both of them the rest of the season and mixing them up depending on game situations.

You got that impression because Lester literally said that

 

[douglasbader]

You got that impression because Lester literally said that

That's the joke, you fucking dipshit.

 

[CleteyColgate]

 

[Greg Obrecht]

Kirk loved Spencer
Kirk loves Hank

it’s fair to say that Kirk has a type.

 

[Lee Beevers]

Kirk loved Spencer
Kirk loves Hank

it’s fair to say that Kirk has a type.

White men?

 

[Monster]

Kirk loved Spencer
Kirk loves Hank

it’s fair to say that Kirk has a type.

Like I said earlier, every coach on the planet has the exact same type. 6'4-6'6 dudes who can throw the ball 70 yards and rifle a 15-yard out 35 yards across the field. They always think they can coach accuracy, pocket awareness, decision making, etc. And often they can. Iowa has struggled because they haven't had good qb coaching for years, and recruiting hasn't been great (until Lester's arrival) because of scheme. But let's not pretend Iowa is somehow unique in this regard. Given this scenario, with two qbs competing without one clearly grabbing hold of the reins, every coach in the country is gonna lean toward the 6'4 225 lb dude over the 5'10 dude and hope he gets better.

 

[Shawneemicks]

Just for shits and giggles I was wondering which one I’d prefer start for each of their remaining six games.
Purdue & Nebrantska were the two I kinda want heck because I think they’ll need to score a bit more. Hank probably in the other 4.

 

[Stu Beagle]

I think 10-2 is the ceiling regardless of QB. The lack of turnovers created by the defense is surprising

 

[TurdBurgler]

The hard count is what sold me on heck. He plays loose and confident. Hank is pretty good too. He would probably have been the starter 6 or 7 of the last 10 years if we had him. Arguably better than Stanley.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

Just for shits and giggles I was wondering which one I’d prefer start for each of their remaining six games.
Purdue & Nebrantska were the two I kinda want heck because I think they’ll need to score a bit more. Hank probably in the other 4.

That sounds like that was a fun little exercise.

 

[douglasbader]

I think 10-2 is the ceiling regardless of QB. The lack of turnovers created by the defense is surprising

That will even out, always does.

So far on the year I can count at least 5-6 INT's that weren't made, a QB fumble against Ohio State that dropped right into a players lap that he didn't see, etc...

Phil has been ramping up the QB pressure the last 2 games as well. He's going to continue to do that and will lead to more.

 

[WCFHawkeye]

The hard count is what sold me on heck. He plays loose and confident. Hank is pretty good too. He would probably have been the starter 6 or 7 of the last 10 years if we had him. Arguably better than Stanley.

Hard disagree. However, hard to compare since Kirk’s son, Brian Ferentz was Stanley's coach. Would have been interesting to see what he could have developed into with a real coach.

 

[Shawneemicks]

That sounds like that was a fun little exercise.

I went into it not really caring which but for whatever reasons I settled out that way

 

[Monster]

Hank is not, so far at least, better than Stanley. Imo it's not particularly close, either.

 

[cloudhawk]

That will even out, always does.

So far on the year I can count at least 5-6 INT's that weren't made, a QB fumble against Ohio State that dropped right into a players lap that he didn't see, etc...

Phil has been ramping up the QB pressure the last 2 games as well. He's going to continue to do that and will lead to more.

Lack of d-line pressure hasn't helped for sure

 

[Lil Scamp]

Fun

Pornography

 

[BBK]

Pornography

Sucky sucky buttfucky?

 

[BBK]

I wonder what year we'll see Kirk sprint across the field mid game because he just shit his pants

 

[Monster]

Fun

It's striking how different KF sounds prepping his team to play vs other coaches. I fully realize his pregame locker room pep talk will likely be much more intense. But listening to the viral recording of the Georgia coach this week is a great example of the difference. I'm not knocking that approach either. Both can work. Some players need a Kirby, some react better to Kirk.